FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
SECTION 902 DEFINITIONS
STANDPIPE, TYPES OF. Standpipe types are as follows:
Automatic dry. A dry standpipe system, normally filled with pressurized air, that is arranged through the use of a device, such as a dry pipe valve, to admit water into the system piping automatically upon the opening of a hose valve. The water supply for an automatic dry standpipe system shall be capable of supplying the system demand.
Automatic wet. A wet standpipe system that has a water supply that is capable of supplying the system demand automatically.
Manual dry. A dry standpipe system that does not have a permanent water supply attached to the system. Manual dry standpipe systems require water from a fire department pumper to be pumped into the system through the fire department connection in order to supply the system demand.
Manual wet. A wet standpipe system connected to a water supply for the purpose of maintaining water within the system but which does not have a water supply capable of delivering the system demand attached to the system. Manual wet standpipe systems require water from a fire department pumper (or the like) to be pumped into the system in order to supply the system demand.
Semiautomatic dry. A dry standpipe system that is arranged through the use of a device, such as a deluge valve, to admit water into the system piping upon activation of a remote control device located at a hose connection. A remote control activation device shall be provided at each hose connection. The water supply for a semiautomatic dry standpipe system shall be capable of supplying the system demand.
*NOTE: All other portions of Section 902 remain as set forth in the International
Fire Code.
903.2.1.1 Group A-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout a fire area containing a for Group A-1 occupancy occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:
1. The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m²). 2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge. 4. The fire area contains a multi-theater complex.
903.2.1.2 Group A-2. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout a fire area containing a for Group A-2 occupancy occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:
1. The fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet (465 m²). 2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.
903.2.1.3 Group A-3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout a fire area containing a for Group A-3 occupancy occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:
1. The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m²). 2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.
Exception: Areas used exclusively as participant sports areas where the main floor area is located at the same level as the level of exit discharge of the main entrance and exit.
903.2.1.4 Group A-4. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout a fire area containing a for Group A-4 occupancy occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:
1. The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m²). 2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.
Exception: Areas used exclusively as participant sport areas where the main floor area is located at the same level as the level of exit discharge of the main entrance and exit.
903.2.3 Group F-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings where the fire area containing a Group F-1 occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:
2. Where a Group F-1 fire area is located more than three stories in height above grade, or
3. Where the combined fire area of all Group F-1 fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230 m²).
903.2.6 Group M. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings where the fire area containing a Group M occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:
1. Where a Group M fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m²), or
2. Where a Group M fire area is located more than three stories in height above grade, or 3. Where the combined fire area of all Group M fire areas on all floors, including any
mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230 m²).
903.2.7 Group R-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings with containing a Group R-1 fire area where the building is three or more stories in height or contain 20 or more sleeping units.
Exceptions:
1. Where guestrooms are not more than three stories above the lowest level of exit discharge and each guestroom has at least one door leading directly to an exterior exit access that leads directly to approved exits.
2. A residential sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.2 shall be allowed in buildings, or portions thereof, of Group R-1.
903.2.10 Group S-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings where the fire area containing a Group S-1 occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:
1. Where a Group S-1 fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m²), or
2. Where a Group S-1 fire area is located more than three stories in height above grade, or
3. Where the combined fire area of all Group S-1 fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230 m²).
903.2.10.1 Repair garages. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings used as repair garages in accordance with the International Building Code, as follows:
1. Buildings two or more stories in height, including basements, with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 10,000 square feet (929 m²).
2. One-story buildings with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 12,000 square feet (1115 m²).
3. Buildings with a repair garage servicing vehicles parked in the basement.
903.2.13 Reserved. During construction. Automatic sprinkler systems required during construction, alteration and demolition operations shall be provided in accordance with Section 1413.
903.3.2 Quick-response and residential sprinklers. Where automatic sprinkler systems are required by this code, quick-response or residential automatic sprinklers shall be installed in the following areas in accordance with Section 903.3.1 and their listings:
1. Throughout all spaces within a smoke compartment containing patient sleeping rooms in Group I-2 in accordance with the International Building Code.
2. Dwelling units, guestrooms and sleeping units rooms in Group R and I-1 occupancies. 3. Light-hazard occupancies as defined in NFPA 13.
903.3.6 Hose threads. Fire hose threads used in connection with automatic sprinkler systems shall comply with NFPA 1963 or as otherwise be approved, and shall be compatible with fire department hose threads.
904.11 Commercial cooking systems. The automatic fire extinguishing system for commercial cooking systems shall be of a type recognized for protection of commercial cooking equipment and exhaust systems of the type and arrangement protected. Pre-engineered automatic dry- and wet- chemical extinguishing systems shall be tested in accordance with UL 300 and listed and labeled for the intended application. Other types of automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be listed and labeled for specific use as protection for commercial cooking operations. The system shall be installed in accordance with this code, its listing and the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems of the following types shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 96 and the referenced standard indicated, as follows:
1. Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems, NFPA 12. 2. Automatic sprinkler system, NFPA 13.
4. Dry-chemical extinguishing systems, NFPA 17. 5. Wet-chemical extinguishing systems, NFPA 17A.
Exception: Commercial cooking equipment recirculating systems that are tested in accordance with UL 197, listed, labeled and installed in accordance with the Mechanical Code.
904.11.2 System interconnection. The actuation of the fire suppression system shall automatically shut down the fuel or electrical power supply to all the cooking equipment and electrical receptacles and devices that are located under the hood. The fuel and electrical supply reset shall be manual.
904.11.6.4 Extinguishing system service. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be serviced and tagged at least every 6 months and after activation of the system. Inspection shall be by qualified individuals, and a record of the service and inspection maintained on premises and made available certificate of inspection shall be forwarded to the code official upon completion request. See Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 02, “Inspection and Testing of Fire Protection and Life-Safety Equipment.”
905.1 General. Standpipe systems shall be provided in new buildings and structures in accordance with this section. Fire hose threads used in connection with standpipe systems shall comply with NFPA 1963 or as otherwise be approved and shall be compatible with fire department hose threads. The location of fire department hose connections shall be approved. In buildings used for high-piled combustible storage, fire protection shall be in accordance with Chapter 23.
905.3.1 Building height. Class III standpipe systems shall be installed throughout buildings where the floor level of the highest story is located more than 30 feet (9144 mm) above the lowest level of the fire department vehicle access grade, or where the floor level of the lowest story is located more than 30 feet (9144 mm) below the highest level of fire department vehicle access grade.
Exceptions:
1. Class I standpipes are allowed in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.
2. Class I manual standpipes are allowed in open parking garages where the highest floor is located not more than 150 feet (45 720 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
3. Class I manual dry standpipes are allowed in open parking garages that are subject to freezing temperatures, provided that the hose connections are located as required for Class II standpipes in accordance with Section 905.5.
4. Class I standpipes are allowed in basements equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
905.3.2 Reserved. Building area. In buildings exceeding 10,000 square feet (929 m²) in area per story, Class I automatic wet or manual wet standpipes shall be provided where any portion of the building’s interior area is more than 200 feet (60 960 mm) of travel, vertically and horizontally, from the nearest point of fire department vehicle access.
Exceptions:
1. Buildings equipped throughout with automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
2. Group A-4, A-5, F-2, R-2, S-2 or U occupancies.
3. Automatic dry and semiautomatic dry standpipes are allowed as provided for in NFPA 14.
905.3.3 Group A. Class I automatic wet standpipes shall be provided in nonsprinklered Group A buildings having an occupant load exceeding 1,000 persons.
Exceptions:
1. Open-air-seating spaces without enclosed spaces.
2. Class I automatic dry and semiautomatic dry standpipes or manual wet standpipes are allowed in buildings where the highest floor surface used for human occupancy is 75 feet (22 860 mm) or less above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
905.3.4 Covered mall buildings. Covered mall buildings and buildings connected thereto shall be equipped throughout with a Class I automatic wet standpipe system where required by Section 905.3. Covered mall buildings that are not required to be equipped with a standpipe system by Section 905.3 shall be equipped with Class I hose connections connected to a system sized to deliver 250 gallons per minute (946 L/min) at the most hydraulically remote outlet. Hose connections shall be provided at each of the following locations:
1. Within the mall at the entrance to each exit passageway or exit.
2. At each floor-level landing within enclosed stairways opening directly to the mall. 3. At exterior public entrances to the mall.
905.3.5 Stages. Stages greater than 1,000 square feet in area (93 m²) shall be equipped with a Class III II wet standpipe system with 1.5-inch and 2.5-inch (38 mm and 64 mm) hose connections on each side of the stage.
Exception: Where the building or area is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system, the hose connections are allowed to be supplied from the automatic sprinkler system and shall have a flow rate of not less than that required by NFPA 14 for Class III standpipes.
905.3.6 Underground buildings. Underground buildings shall be equipped throughout with a Class I automatic wet or manual wet standpipe system.
905.4 Location of Class I standpipe hose connections. Class I standpipe hose connections shall be provided in all of the following locations:
1. In every required stairway, a hose connection shall be provided for each floor level above or below grade. Hose connections shall be located at an intermediate each floor level landing between floors, unless otherwise approved by the code official.
2. On each side of the wall adjacent to the exit opening of a horizontal exit.
3. In every exit passageway at the entrance from the exit passageway to other areas of a building.
4. In covered mall buildings, adjacent to each exterior public entrance to the mall and adjacent to each entrance from an exit passageway or exit corridor to the mall.
5. Where the roof has a slope less than four units vertical in 12 units horizontal (33.3-percent slope), each standpipe shall be provided with a hose connection located either on the roof or at the highest landing of stairways with stair access to the roof. An additional hose connection shall be provided at the top of the most hydraulically remote standpipe for testing purposes.
6. Where the most remote portion of a nonsprinklered floor or story is more than 150 feet (45 720 mm) from a hose connection or the most remote portion of a sprinklered floor or story is more than 200 feet (60 960 mm) from a hose connection, the code official is authorized to require that additional hose connections be provided in approved locations.
905.5 Location of Class II standpipe hose connections. Class II standpipe hose connections shall be accessible and shall be located so that all portions of the building are within 30 feet (9144 mm) of a variable nozzle attached to 100 feet (30 480 mm) of hose.
905.8 Dry standpipe. In buildings requiring standpipes, dry standpipes complying with NFPA 14 are permitted when, in the opinion of the code official, an approved water supply is not available or when the standpipe is subject to freezing. Design pressure. Design pressure at the uppermost valve for a Class II standpipe system shall be 35 psig (241 kPa).
906.2 General requirements. Fire extinguishers shall be selected, installed and maintained in accordance with this section, and NFPA 10, and Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 01, “Installation and Maintenance of Portable Fire Extinguishers.”
Exception: The travel distance to reach an extinguisher shall not apply to the spectator seating portions of Group A- 5 occupancies.
907.1.3 State smoke alarm requirements for dwellings. Installation, inspection, and repair of smoke alarms in certain dwellings is governed by Subchapter F of Chapter 92 of the Texas Property Code. No provision of this section or other provision of this Code shall be deemed to excuse compliance with the subject state law, and to the extent of any inconsistency, the state law shall control.
907.2.3 Group E. A manual and automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in Group E occupancies. When If an automatic sprinkler systems or smoke detectors are is installed, such systems or detectors shall be connected to the building fire alarm system. Smoke detectors, connected to the fire alarm system, shall be installed in each interior corridor serving as an exit and in storerooms, mechanical rooms, janitorial rooms and similar areas. Smoke detectors shall not be required in toilet rooms, class rooms or offices.
Exceptions:
1. Group E occupancies with an occupant load of less than 50.
2. Manual fire alarm boxes are not required in Group E occupancies where the building is protected throughout by an approved supervised automatic sprinkler system having a local alarm to notify occupants. all the following apply:
2.1. Interior corridors are protected by smoke detectors with alarm verification. 2.2. Auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums and the like are protected by heat
detectors or other approved detection devices.
2.3. Shops and laboratories involving dusts or vapors are protected by heat detectors or other approved detection devices.
2.4. Off-premises monitoring is provided.
2.5. The capability to activate the evacuation signal from a central point is provided.
2.6. In buildings where normally occupied spaces are provided with a two-way communication system between such spaces and a constantly attended receiving station from where a general evacuation alarm can be sounded, except in locations specifically designated by the code official.
2. Where required in a Group E Occupancy, manual fire alarm boxes shall be located in accordance with Section 907.4.
3. Approved heat detectors may be installed in lieu of smoke detectors in mechanical rooms, janitorial rooms and similar areas.
907.2.3.1 Group E childcare facilities with an occupant load of 50 or more. Smoke detectors shall be provided in corridors, in common areas, and in each room that exceeds 20 square feet in floor area.
Exception: Approved heat detectors may be installed in lieu of smoke detectors in mechanical rooms, janitorial rooms and similar areas.
907.2.3.2Group E childcare facilities with an occupant load of less than 50. Smoke detectors shall be provided in each occupiable area. Each of the detectors shall be interconnected so that activation of any detector shall automatically activate the alarm of all detectors, unless provided with a fire alarm system in accordance with Section 907.2.3.1.
907.2.6.1 Group I-2. Corridors in nursing homes (both intermediate care and skilled nursing facilities), detoxification facilities and spaces open to the corridors shall be equipped with an automatic fire detection system.
Exceptions:
1. Corridor smoke detection is not required where patient sleeping rooms are provided with smoke detectors that compy with UL 268. Such detectors shall provide a visual display on the corridor side of each patient room and shall provide an audible and visual alarm at the nursing station attending each room. 2. Corridor smoke detection is not required where patient room doors are equipped with automatic door-closing devices with integral smoke detectors on the room sides installed in accordance with their listing, provided that the integral detectors perform the required alerting function.
Patient rooms. Patient rooms within Group I-1 and I-2 occupancies shall be provided with UL 268-type smoke detectors. The detectors shall provide a visual display on the corridor side of each patient sleeping room and shall provide an audible and visual alarm at the nursing station attending each sleeping unit. In patient sleeping rooms equipped with automatic door closures having integral smoke detectors on the room side, the integral detector may be substituted for the room smoke detector, provided that it performs the required alerting functions.
907.2.6.2.3 Smoke detectors. An approved automatic smoke detection system shall be installed throughout resident housing areas, including sleeping areas and contiguous day